Irish people consume more fresh mushrooms per capita than any country in Western Europe
Irish people consume more fresh mushrooms per capita than any country in Western Europe and Irish mushroom growers are currently preparing for the busiest time of year, with as much as a 25% increase in quarterly sales possible in the peak winter period. Dietician Paula Mee has joined forces with Irish mushroom producers to highlight the nutritional benefits of this tasty vegetable and to provide suggestions for incorporating them into daily meals, particularly breakfast.
Paula Mee, Consultant Dietician said “It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and mushrooms make the perfect ingredient, as they are not only filling and flavoursome but extremely versatile. As well as being low in fat and calories, mushrooms also have a number of health benefits, with roughly four mushrooms (80g) counting as one of your 5 a day fruit and vegetable portions. Mushrooms are a natural source of folic acid and of vitamin B₅. These vitamins work in the body to help release energy from the food we eat and help in the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. A wonderful way to start the day!”
Just Add Mushrooms
‘Just Add Mushrooms' is a consumer campaign running in Ireland and the UK co-funded 50:50 by the EU and producers and marketers in both markets. As part of the campaign, a number of well known personalities including 2FM DJ, Nicky Byrne, pop star Michelle Heaton and TV Presenter, Fern Britton have contributed to videos containing their favourite mushroom recipes.
The latest batch of recipes available on the www.justaddmushrooms.ie website features Fern Britton of Ready, Steady, Cook fame sharing her Full Irish Breakfast, a vegetarian mushroom, spinach and egg breakfast bake, a mushroom, bacon and egg pancake stack and super-quick egg muffins with sausage, bacon and mushrooms.
Irish Mushroom Market
The Irish mushroom market employes more than 2,500 people with a retail value of the of €50 million. Recent Kantar data has shown a 1 percent increase in in annual retail mushroom sales to 13700 tonnes. Kantar data has also shown a 7% increase in the number of households in the 35-45 years age group - a key demographic to grow future sales.
In Ireland, sales of mushrooms have cumulatively increased by 2500 tonnes in the first two years of the Just Add Mushrooms campaign, and the number of households has increased by 79 000.
For a range of tasty mushroom meal ideas and tips on cooking breakfast for the family, visit www.justaddmushrooms.ie and www.facebook.com/MoreToMushrooms.
More from Paula Mee on Mushrooms:
Mushrooms come in an incredible variety of shapes and colours. They can add umami flavour and great texture to meals and casseroles. They taste amazing and delicious when cooked correctly, but they can taste just as delicious sometimes raw!
Mushrooms can be cleaned with a damp kitchen towel and do not need to be soaked in water. Store mushrooms in brown paper bags, but if you find them hidden and forgotten about in the bottom of the fridge – don't toss them out if they're just a little bit dried out. Mushrooms have a remarkable ability to reconstitute themselves, and although they won't look as appealing as firm fresh ones, they'll cook up just fine. Drizzle in olive oil, add garlic and herbs, cook and then toss over your pasta or spoon the mix over fish or chicken breasts.
What about these for excuses!!!
I've tried vegetables before when I was younger but they were yuck. I didn't like them then and I don't like them now.Remember you have to taste a new vegetable over 10 times before you develop a taste for it, so don't give up. Keep trying. It's worth it! Your tastes also develop as you grow and the vegetable you didn't like before may be the very one you like now. Keep tasting and testing your taste buds.
I take vitamins and mineral supplements every day so I don't bother about eating vegetables.It's true that everyone needs vitamins and minerals in small amounts for the body to work properly. Vitamins and minerals have many different roles within the body: they assist growth and development, they help the body produce energy from food, they support immune, reproductive and nervous function, and much more. A supplement will never be a good substitute for the real thing.
I eat lettuce every day in my sandwich so I don't need other vegetables.Variety is the cornerstone of good nutrition. No one vegetable provides all the nutrients you need for good health so try to vary the types of vegetables and fruits you eat as much as possible – don't be afraid to try new things – you might like them!
Fresh vegetables are too expensive and I simply can't afford to buy them for the family.Buying fresh vegetables when they are in season and very plentiful, usually means you can get very good value for money.
My children used to eat vegetables when they were younger, but they now complain they don't like the texture of cooked vegetables.If your children don't eat the texture of cooked vegetables, you can try two things – change the texture or offer them uncooked raw vegetables.